Rehabilitation

The Pillars of Physical Therapy – Orthotists

Written by Maroun Tarabey
November 18th, 2024

Introduction

It’s a hot summer day, and you’re competing in a game of basketball when suddenly you fall and tear your ACL. This situation is unfortunately common, but one of the first treatments you may receive—sometimes even before seeing a therapist—is a knee brace. This is the work of orthotists.

Though the field of orthotics remains largely unknown to the general public, athletes, patients in rehabilitation, and healthcare professionals know their crucial importance in recovery.

What Is an Orthotist?

Orthotics is a field of healthcare that provides treatment and support for injuries or pathologies requiring mechanical support.

Orthotists work in varied settings, such as:

  • Hospitals
  • Clinics
  • Prosthetic/orthotic manufacturing companies
  • Research laboratories (biomechanics)
  • Private practices

Their Core Role

Orthotists design and create devices that support injured or diseased musculoskeletal structures. The goal: increase mobility and quality of life.

Their most common product is the orthopaedic brace (a type of orthosis). These devices:

  • Reduce discomfort and pain
  • Provide biomechanical support, alignment, and protection
  • Attempt to correct or accommodate deformities
  • Most importantly: increase mobility

Examples include:

  • AFO braces – ankle/foot support
  • KAFO braces – stabilizes the foot up to the knee
  • Halo brace – stabilizes the neck, similar to a reinforced cervical collar²

Orthotists care for patients with:

  • Musculoskeletal injuries
  • Deformities (e.g., scoliosis)
  • Neuromuscular disorders

Because of their diverse patient base, orthotists must combine skills in medicine, physics, biomechanics, and social care.

Education Pathway (Canada)

In Canada, becoming an orthotist typically requires:

  1. 4-year university degree
  2. Graduate degree in Prosthetics & Orthotics (2 years)
  3. Residency with a certified orthotist/prosthetist (2 years)
  4. National written and practical credentialing exam³

Training Programs in Canada

  • BCIT – Prosthetics & Orthotics Diploma (offered every 2 years; limited to students from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba)⁴
  • George Brown College (Toronto & Winnipeg campuses) – Clinical Methods in Orthotics/Prosthetics (accepts 10 students annually nationwide)⁵

💰 The average salary for an orthotist/prosthetist in Ottawa is approximately $105,000 CAD⁶.

Innovation & Research

Orthotics is also an exciting research-driven field. Innovations include:

  • 3D printing of custom orthoses
  • Digital design integration for individualized support devices⁷

These advances enable more personalized and effective treatments for patients.

Conclusion

Orthotists are unsung heroes in rehabilitation, blending biomechanics with empathetic patient care. Many professionals in the field are both orthotists and prosthetists, which increases their capacity to support patients comprehensively.

By helping patients regain movement, stability, and independence, orthotists remain a fundamental pillar in physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Footnotes

References

Occupational Therapist